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Portlaoise will be buzzing with activity this coming weekend as The World Fleadh hits town once again. Featuring the best national and international acts practicing Celtic music and dance, Fleadh 2008 promises to surpass last years highly successful festival. The major acts of the weekend will be hosted in the Dunamaise Arts Centre, Festival Dome and Sky Venue.
The following is a breakdown of the shows according to venue:
Festival Dome
Friday August 1st: Sharon Shannon Band featuring Shane MacGowan, Damien Dempsey, Mundy, Dessie O'Halloran
Saturday August 2nd: Tommy Fleming and his orchestra (fully seated)
Sunday August 3rd: Frankie Gavin and Hibernian Rhabsody featuring the Dublin Philharmonic orchestra, Brian Kennedy, Moya Brennan, Anthony Kearns
Monday August 4th: The World of Irish Country featuring Mike Denver, Roly Daniels, Ray Lynam, Damien Bowe
Dunamaise Arts Centre
Thursday August 31st: Official opening followed by Lunasa
Friday August 1st: Sean Keane
Saturday August 2nd: Maitin O'Connor Band
Sunday August 3rd: Grada
Sky Venue
Friday August 1st: The Wolfe Tones
Saturday August 2nd: Hothouse Flowers
Sunday August 3rd: Jack L
Monday August 4th: Seamus Begley and Jim Murray
In addition to this there will be live music throughout town centre over the course of the weekend. Many of the local bars will feature session trails to keep the entertainment going well into the night.
As if that wasn't enough, the World Food and Craft Fair will be open from early morning every day at Tower Hill, busking competitions will be ongoing on Main Street, as well as sports exhibitions, art exhibitions, a bucking bull, hot air balloons, an aerobatic display by the Air Corps and, last but not least, no festival in the heart of Ireland would be complete without a pig race.
For those who feel like venturing away from Portlaoise, Woody's Bar Mountrath will be hosting it's own Fleadh weekend. Saturday will see Geansai Dearg with Strain taking up the mantle on Sunday. Both groups are mainly comprised of local musicians and promise to bring an equal amount of craic and ceol as anything happening in Laois' big smoke this weekend. |
